Lysander, NY -- I've been writing about beer, mostly through a column in the Post-Standard, for almost 15 years. During that time, I've sometimes made reference to the largest American brewer, Anheuser-Busch, but I haven't written a lot. I focus mostly on the growing "craft" beer market.

It's nothing against A-B. It's just that they have such a huge national advertising and marketing presence that it never seemed like they needed my help to get the word out.

Now they're owned by a global conglomerate based in Belgium. But they still have a brewery that employs 800 Central New Yorkers in Lysander.
So, since I started this blog, I decided to pay them a visit. It confirmed what I've always thought, even as a craft beer fan: A-B employs very smart people who can make any beer they want. They could make the world's best beer, because they have the resources, the skills and the access to ingredients.

They make what they make -- from Bud Light to Tilt Orange -- because they're in the business of selling beverages to large numbers of consumers. And they're set up to make huge amounts.

Let me put that in a local perspective: A single batch, or brew, at A-B in Lysander is 930 barrels. A single batch at Middle Ages Brewing Co, in Syracuse is 30 barrels. A single batch at the Empire Brewing Co. brewpub in Armory Square is 7 barrels.

It may be little easier to experiment with 7 barrels (about 2,300 12-ounce servings) than with 930 barrels (about 307,000 12-ounce servings). So when A-B does experiment, and it does, it puts a lot of thought into whether that product will sell in large volumes.

Related Stories

Food & Dining Sections

It can be hard to figure where to go for a good burger, or the best pizza, or the perfect place to enjoy a celebration. After all, there are lots of great places to eat in CNY. That's why we created our "Syracuse's Best Restaurants" series ... Read more»